2026 is upon us! If you need some consolation for failing your New Year's resolutions, look no further than this episode, where Trish and Ish look back on 2025 through discussing some of the books they read that weren't featured on the pod. Whether you like women turning into plants, excessive references to Edgar Allan Poe, or modern plagues (literal and metaphorical), there's a little something here for everyone.

A book podcast, you say? Bah, humbug! Is there no BookTok? In our final episode of the year, Trish and Ish will try to warm your squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old heart as they discuss the Christmassiest book of all time, Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. You will be haunted by two hosts as they reference Episodes of Podcast Past, Pop Culture of Podcast Present, and Books of Podcast Yet to Come. Along the way, we visit the novella's influence on the Christmas genre, Scrooge's transformation from heartless miser to jolly old gent, and a rare sincere moment where your hosts view each other as fellow passengers to the grave. If you needed a sign to go fetch that prize turkey in the window (the one as big as you), this is it. If you listen to this episode on the way, we'll give you half a crown.

If you're feeling literally run off your feet by the holidays, wipe the snow off your goloshes and join us at the table as we give a toast to James Joyce's story "The Dead". Described as "one of the most powerful evocations of human loss and longing that the English language possesses", this crown jewel of the Dubliners collection might just be too sophisticated for our humble hosts. Nevertheless, like Gabriel Conroy, they talk at great length to an indifferent audience about Joycean jargon, stylistic sentences, ire-inducing Irishness, and the drifting descent of the dead. After listening, you'll rate the show 5 stars as if you enjoyed this episode.

It's Halloween again, and you know what that means: we're covering a horror story. Specifically, a cosmic horror story. And what better author to feature than Providence, Rhode Island's own H.P. Lovecraft and his seminal short story, "The Call of Cthulhu"? Search through our proverbial great-uncle's research notes with us as we uncover the hallmarks of Lovecraftian horror, debate the pronunciation of the titular character, and throw shade on the narrator for his literary snobbery. Hear us attempt to describe the indescribable in everyone's favourite tentacle-faced monstrosity, Big C. After listening, prepare for vivid nightmares where the geometry is "loathsomely redolent of spheres and dimensions apart from ours".

And remember, with strange aeons even podcasts may die.

Dear Pursuers (that's what we decided our fans are called),

In today's episode we cover what Wikipedia describes as a "science fiction fantasy LGBT epistolary novel". You guessed it - it is, of course: This Is How You Lose the Time War. Written by everyone's favourite iconic duo, equine accident survivor Max Gladstone and Canadian Content certified Ottawan Amal El-Mohtar, this is as Ish Majeed calls it our first "collabo book". Travel upthread with us as we discuss the novel's epistolary format, the impressionistic worldbuilding, and grand themes of love and war. Many thanks to bigolas dickolas wolfwood, without whom this episode would not exist. Burn after listening.

Yours podcasting perpetuity,

Trish and Ish

PS Tristan sends her condolences for the unhinged dinosaur rant.

Last night I dreamt... you listened to Don't Come After Us again. It seemed to me that episode was the one where we covered Daphne du Maurier's 1938 classic: Rebecca. Trish and Ish discuss the book's skillful use of literary devices, the psychological and Freudian themes, and enduring cultural impact (even influencing such pop girlies as Taylor Swift and Olivia Rodrigo). Also included: hot takes from the afterword of Tristan's edition and excessive details about du Maurier's grandfather. Tune in for a "ripping time".

Reasons why it's good to listen to this episode:

• It could help you through a breakup.

• It may or may not be popular on BookTok.
• Almost every millennial woman knows the name Dolly Alderton, according to mamamia.com at least.

So obviously we had to cover one of her books. The book in question is none other than her 2023 novel about breakups and heartache: Good Material. Come for the relatable characters and modern setting; stay for the shockingly prescient predictions about a certain global pandemic and to find out the correct usage of the word "nonplussed". Finally, tune in till the end to determine whether this book is in fact good material.

Back by popular demand, it's another bonus episode! Maybe this one will crack 10 listens. This time we discuss some of the authors whose works we read as children and who helped to shape our young minds. Tune in to hear us mispronounce the names of several manga authors, exceed our mandated Canadian content quota, and inevitably make reference to a certain paranormal romance series that once more robs Tristan of her mental faculties. These authors all played a role in moulding us into the inimitable podcast hosts we are today.